Remember those family car trips when you were young? The long ones when the kids passed time by spotting out-of-state license plates or playing cow poker and alphabet games? Well, times sure have changed! The kids won’t have to entertain themselves anymore. As families take to the road for a spring vacation, the new RCA mobile video cassette player from Thomson will keep children and adults entertained for hours. The unit plays VHS tapes and can be connected to two sets of headphones as well as video game systems.

Designed for use in cars, SUVs, recreational vehicles, and even boats, the compact-sized unit features a 5.6-inch color LCD active matrix display that delivers a consistent picture even in bright light conditions. Featuring a fold-down view screen, the VHS player transforms into a sleek center console when not in use. Also, for safety it allows seat-belt pass-through between the rear seat riders. The panel clusters are backlit for easy access, and all the jacks are located behind the screen, separating the cables from viewers. The unit operates via a car cigarette lighter cord and AC power.

"With many more families taking to the road for spring break this year, they will be spending many more hours in the car than usual. Having the ability to entertain the children with their favorite videos will create a peaceful and relaxing journey for the entire family," commented Vic Theobalds, TV product planning manager for Thomson's RCA brand.

The RCA BLV552 has a suggested retail price of $449 and is now available. Parents and grandparents may have a more peaceful ride if they provide back-seat video entertainment, but I think I’ll miss those old-fashioned road games.